As 2024 is wrapping up, I enjoy looking back on the fact that I spent every other of my mornings at the pool.

Waking up at 06:45, being at the pool by 07:30 and swimming until 09:00.

What felt like a chore at first has now become second nature, and the rhythm it has helped me build has probably resulted in the most productive swimming year I’ve ever had.

The shock of moving from the warmth of my bed to the coldness of the pool has been invigorating — and, to be honest, just fun.

Pick a time, pick a frequency, and don’t negotiate with yourself. The first month will suck. The second month will feel routine. By the third, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner. And don’t overthink the goal — “show up” is a perfectly valid one.